Given the seriousness of the disease, there is a perceived gap in dietary information provided at the time of diagnosis. Healthcare professionals should address concerns with alternative therapeutic diets advertised to treat or cure MS, and clearly convey the reasoning for the general healthy dietary recommendations. This would better align advice with the perceptions about the role of diet in MS, assist people with MS in need of information and minimise dietary self-experimentation. Future research should explore the importance of diet for those who have had MS for a longer period of time.

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Background/objectivesAlthough the current evidence is insufficient to recommend a special diet for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), dietary advice for people with MS is prolific online and in the media. This study aimed to describe dietary changes made in the year following a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination (FCD), a common precursor to MS.Subjects/methodsWe used follow-up data from the Ausimmune Study, a multicentre matched case-control study examining the environmental risk factors for a FCD. A total of 244 cases (60 male, 184 female) completed a 1-year follow-up interview, which included a question about dietary changes. We described the number and proportion (%) of participants who reported making dietary changes and the type of change made. We investigated independent predictors of making a dietary change using a multivariable logistic regression model.ResultsA total of 38% (n = 92) of participants at the 1-year follow-up reported making at least one dietary change over the last year. There were no statistically significant independent associations between any participant characteristic and odds of making a dietary change. Of those who made at least one dietary change, the most common changes were increasing fruit and/or vegetable intake (27%, n = 25) and following a low-fat diet (25%, n = 23).ConclusionA considerable proportion of the study population reported making at least one dietary change in the year following a FCD, with the majority of changes being toward a healthier diet. Further research is warranted to investigate the reasons behind any dietary changes adopted by people with a FCD or with MS, and whether making a dietary change has benefits for the progression of demyelinating diseases, e.g., to a diagnosis of MS, as well as for general health and well-being.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is arguably the most severe form of breast cancer with a very high mortality rate. IBC is distinct from other forms of breast cancer expressing unique cell surface markers such as hypoglycosylated MUC1. However, treatment options for IBC are limited. Calcitriol is a potential treatment for IBC due to its promising role as a therapeutic in other forms of cancer. Our previous research demonstrated that calcitriol inhibits the metastatic ability of the SUM149 IBC cell line. However, high concentration of calcitriol would be required for treatment. This may result in serious side effects such as hypercalcemia. Targeting calcitriol directly to the tumor site would allow for treatment without toxic levels of calcitriol. Here we developed SM3MUC1 antibody conjugated calcitriol bound QDs as a novel nanoparticles probe. We demonstrate that these particles can be used to target to MUC1 over-expressing IBC cells in vitro and in vivo. Therefore these particles can be used to determine the localization of IBC emboli in vivo and maybe used as a potential vehicle to deliver high doses of calcitriol to the IBC tumors and metastasis.

Background: Obesity is common in the United States and is associated with a higher risk of relapse and comorbidities, and increased disease progression, in people with MS. Methods: We examined the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the MS Sunshine Study, a matched casecontrol study of multiple sclerosis in Southern California (470 cases, 519 controls). We reported the proportion of participants who adopted a specific diet for nutrition or weight loss purposes, and identified independent predictors of dieting. Results: In the total population, 32% and 37% were overweight and obese, respectively. Case participants were no more likely to adopt a specific diet for nutrition or weight loss purposes than control participants (10% and 11%, respectively). Being obese, younger, female or non-Hispanic were independently associated with dieting. Conclusion: Despite the evidence that obesity can worsen MS prognosis, and the high prevalence of overweight/ obesity, case participants were no more likely to adopt a specific diet than control participants. Improved nutrition education may help people with MS make healthy dietary changes for nutrition or weight loss purposes.